Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for treating vascular defects are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed toward an occlusion device that includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The distal portion can include a directing region and a lead-in member that extends distally from the directing region. When the occlusion device is in a deployed configuration, the intermediate portion can form a preset bend in the occlusion device that positions the directing region at an angle with respect to the proximal portion. As a result, as the occlusion device is pushed distally out of a delivery catheter into the aneurysm, the directing region directs the distal portion away from exiting the aneurysm through the neck such that the proximal portion crosses the neck and generally remains within the aneurysm.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for treating vascular defects are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed toward an occlusion device that includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The distal portion can include a directing region and a lead-in member that extends distally from the directing region. When the occlusion device is in a deployed configuration, the intermediate portion can form a preset bend in the occlusion device that positions the directing region at an angle with respect to the proximal portion. As a result, as the occlusion device is pushed distally out of a delivery catheter into the aneurysm, the directing region directs the distal portion away from exiting the aneurysm through the neck such that the proximal portion crosses the neck and generally remains within the aneurysm.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for treating vascular defects are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed toward an occlusion device that includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The distal portion can include a directing region and a lead-in member that extends distally from the directing region. When the occlusion device is in a deployed configuration, the intermediate portion can form a preset bend in the occlusion device that positions the directing region at an angle with respect to the proximal portion. As a result, as the occlusion device is pushed distally out of a delivery catheter into the aneurysm, the directing region directs the distal portion away from exiting the aneurysm through the neck such that the proximal portion crosses the neck and generally remains within the aneurysm.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for treating vascular defects are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed toward an occlusion device that includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an intermediate portion extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The distal portion can include a directing region and a lead-in member that extends distally from the directing region. When the occlusion device is in a deployed configuration, the intermediate portion can form a preset bend in the occlusion device that positions the directing region at an angle with respect to the proximal portion. As a result, as the occlusion device is pushed distally out of a delivery catheter into the aneurysm, the directing region directs the distal portion away from exiting the aneurysm through the neck such that the proximal portion crosses the neck and generally remains within the aneurysm.

Abstract: Methods for treating anatomic tissue defects such as a patent foramen ovale generally involve positioning a distal end of a catheter device at the site of the defect, exposing a housing and energy transmission member from the distal end of the catheter, engaging the housing with tissues at the site of the defect, applying suction or other approximating tool to the tissue via the housing to bring the tissue together, and applying energy to the tissue with the energy transmission member or to deliver a clip or fixation device to substantially close the defect. Apparatus generally include a catheter body, a housing extending from a distal end of the catheter body for engaging tissue at the site of the defect, and further adapted to house a fusing or fixation device such as an energy transmission member adjacent a distal end of the housing, or a clip or fixation delivery element.

Abstract: Methods for treating anatomic tissue defects such as a patent foramen ovale generally involve positioning a distal end of a catheter device at the site of the defect, exposing a housing and energy transmission member from the distal end of the catheter, engaging the housing with tissues at the site of the defect, applying suction or other approximating tool to the tissue via the housing to bring the tissue together, and applying energy to the tissue with the energy transmission member or to deliver a clip or fixation device to substantially close the defect. Apparatus generally include a catheter body, a housing extending from a distal end of the catheter body for engaging tissue at the site of the defect, and further adapted to house a fusing or fixation device such as an energy transmission member adjacent a distal end of the housing, or a clip or fixation delivery element.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treatment of layered tissue defects having a majority of the surfaces of the defect layers in contact generally involve use of a catheter having at least one energy transmission member at its distal end. The distal end of the apparatus also typically has a force applying member which can apply a force to the tissue defect. Often this force is a lateral force or vacuum which helps the tissue to appose itself. An exemplary method of closing a patent foramen ovale (PFO) involves positioning a closure device between layers of the PFO. Energy is then applied to the layered tissue defect with the closure device so as to substantially close the tissue defect. The energy is often monopolar or bipolar radiofrequency energy. A force may also be applied by the closure device to the layered tissue defect so as to bring the layered tissue defect together.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treatment of layered tissue defects such as a patent foramen ovale provide for applying energy to tissues adjacent to the PFO with a closure device that substantially closes the PFO. Apparatus generally includes an elongate flexible member having a proximal end and a distal end and an energy transmission member deployable from the elongate flexible member. The energy transmission member applies energy to the layered tissue defect at a first position and a second position adjacent to the first position so as to substantially close the layered tissue defect along at least a portion of the defect. Applied energy may be monopolar or bipolar radiofrequency energy or any other suitable energy, such as laser, microwave, ultrasound, resistive heating, direct heat energy, cryogenic or the like. PFO closure via energy-based approaches of the invention may help prevent stroke, treat migraine headache, and possibly treat or prevent other medical conditions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treatment of layered tissue defects such as a patent foramen ovale provide for applying energy to tissues adjacent to the PFO with a closure device that substantially closes the PFO. Apparatus generally includes an elongate flexible member having a proximal end and a distal end and an energy transmission member deployable from the elongate flexible member. The energy transmission member applies energy to the layered tissue defect at a first position and a second position adjacent to the first position so as to substantially close the layered tissue defect along at least a portion of the defect. Applied energy may be monopolar or bipolar radiofrequency energy or any other suitable energy, such as laser, microwave, ultrasound, resistive heating, direct heat energy, cryogenic or the like. PFO closure via energy-based approaches of the invention may help prevent stroke, treat migraine headache, and possibly treat or prevent other medical conditions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treatment of layered tissue defects having a majority of the surfaces of the defect layers in contact generally involve use of a catheter having at least one energy transmission member at its distal end. The distal end of the apparatus also typically has a force applying member which can apply a force to the tissue defect. Often this force is a lateral force or vacuum which helps the tissue to appose itself. An exemplary method of closing a patent foramen ovale (PFO) involves positioning a closure device between layers of the PFO. Energy is then applied to the layered tissue defect with the closure device so as to substantially close the tissue defect. The energy is often monopolar or bipolar radiofrequency energy. A force may also be applied by the closure device to the layered tissue defect so as to bring the layered tissue defect together.

Abstract: Methods for treating anatomic tissue defects such as a patent foramen ovate generally involve positioning a distal end of a catheter device at the site of the defect, exposing a housing and energy transmission member from the distal end of the catheter, engaging the housing with tissues at the site of the defect, applying suction or other approximating tool to the tissue via the housing to bring the tissue together, and applying energy to the tissue with the energy transmission member or to deliver a clip or fixation device to substantially close the defect. Apparatus generally include a catheter body, a housing extending from a distal end of the catheter body for engaging tissue at the site of the defect, and further adapted to house a fusing or fixation device such as an energy transmission member adjacent a distal end of the housing, or a clip or fixation delivery element.

Abstract: Methods for treating anatomic tissue defects such as a patent foramen ovale generally involve positioning a distal end of a catheter device at the site of the defect, exposing a housing and energy transmission member from the distal end of the catheter, engaging the housing with tissues at the site of the defect, applying suction or other approximating tool to the tissue via the housing to bring the tissue together, and applying energy to the tissue with the energy transmission member or to deliver a clip or fixation device to substantially close the defect. Apparatus generally include a catheter body, a housing extending from a distal end of the catheter body for engaging tissue at the site of the defect, and further adapted to house a fusing or fixation device such as an energy transmission member adjacent a distal end of the housing, or a clip or fixation delivery element.

Abstract: Methods for treating anatomic tissue defects such as a patent foramen ovale generally involve positioning a distal end of a catheter device at the site of the defect, exposing a housing and energy transmission member from the distal end of the catheter, engaging the housing with tissues at the site of the defect, applying suction or other approximating tool to the tissue via the housing to bring the tissue together, and applying energy to the tissue with the energy transmission member or to deliver a clip or fixation device to substantially close the defect. Apparatus generally include a catheter body, a housing extending from a distal end of the catheter body for engaging tissue at the site of the defect, and further adapted to house a fusing or fixation device such as an energy transmission member adjacent a distal end of the housing, or a clip or fixation delivery element.

Abstract: A flexible, preferably coiled wire for use in small-vessel vaso-occlusion. The wire has a stretched, linear condition in which it can be advanced through a catheter lumen to a selected vessel, and a relaxed, convoluted condition produced by a combination of a helical winding of the wire, and irregularities of the helical winding. When the wire is released from a catheter into a vessel, it assumes a randomly coiled, substantially space-filling mass which is lodged at the site of release. In a preferred embodiment, the helical winding in the wire's relaxed condition has about the same diameter as that of the vessel, and the wire, in its stretched condition, has a length of about 15-20 times the vessel diameter.